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These four high quality volumes describe the state-ofthe-art in micropropagation of commercially important plants. The literature is reviewed by experts from 30 countries, resulting in a four-part series which contains 119 chapters. It is not just a listing of recipes on how to make up a medium for a particular species; it provides much deeper information on the physiological basis of the behaviour of plants in vitro. For the commercial laboratory and plant nursery, it also describes the use of artificial intelligence, image analysis, video cameras, bioreactors, mistifiers, automatic production lines, synthetic seed, storage and cryopreservation of elite genetic stocks, and the computerisation of information management. These areas are dealt with specifically in volume I, which comprises 29 chapters providing all the basic information needed by the researcher and commercial manager, including discussions on culture methods, problems and possible solutions. It is divided into 4 sections, the first of which deals with general aspects including how to set up a commercial laboratory, how to deal with vitrification, methods of acclimatization, the nature and origin of explants, effects of the culture vessel on micropropagation, disposable film culture vessels and much more. Section II concentrates mainly on artificial substrates, rooting problems, autotrophism and nursery planting whilst Section III deals with storage of cultures, quiescent somatic embryos and artificial seeds. Section IV is a fascinating collection of information on the commercial logistics of in vitro propagation covering everything from automation, through the use of robots in transplanting to bioreactors and computerisation of greenhouses. Volumes II-IV of the series provide detailed information on specific plants, each chapter beginning with a brief introduction of the species, its botanical description, distribution and commercial importance. General procedures of micropropagation and detailed information on media composition, sterilisation methods and acclimatization are also provided. Volume II deals with woody species, Volume III with vegetable, tuber, medicinal, aromatic, oilseed crops and grasses and Volume IV with a range of ornamental species. The books are extremely well produced, well illustrated, well referenced and should be of interest to anyone involved in tissue culture, whether an advanced student, lecturer or commercial manager. The cost is quite high but perhaps understandably so, in view of the quality, wealth of information and expert advice provided.

By William Baubixgxox, M. 1). J', ll* S. ben, Physician to Guy's Hospital. This paper abounds with good observations, many of which are more calculated for the public at large than the medical reader< We? therefore trust the whole will be inserted in every popular Journal.
Two of the waiters at a public house in Honey-lane Market* totally unconscious of the danger to which they exposed themselves, went to rcslwith a chaffing dish of burning charcoal at the foot ot their bed. In the morning, not appearing at the usual ho{.ir* they were called by a person >vho found one of them lifeless on the floor. The other was insensible, and apparently at the point of death, but with perceptible breathing, heat, and pulsation at the arteries. The situation of the first being the most urgent, Dl". Dabbington tried the effect of artificial respiration, by instructing instructing Mr. Hinges ton to inflate and empty the lungs; Mr. H. blowing through a, catheter, passed by the mouth into the tra* chiea, and his assistant.alternately pressing out the air4 ,, As all this proved ineffectual, the Galvanic apparatus was introduced; and the muscles showing no irritability to this powerful stimulus, it was reasonably supposed that all ifurther altempts would,prove ineffectual.
In the elder waiter there was stertorous bfeathing, countenance somewhat flushed, pulse full and strong ; it was therefore thought adviseable to bleed him.
But upon returning to him,' it was found that the vital powers were much more enfeebled than before ; the pulse was weaker, and the respiration more imperfect; the heat confined to the upper part of the body; the eye insensible to common impressions; and a slight convulsive motion, which some of the muscles had before exhibited, had ceased; the tongue swolu and projected from the mouth, which was locked by a spasmodic action of the muscles of the lower jaw ; there was a copious discharge of frothy saliva from the angles. Under these circumstances the galvanic shock produced instantly a good effect, affect-ing not only all the muscles through \vhich it was immediately passed, but most others subservient to the functions of life as well as to the organs of sense. , About two hours after the event was first discovered, a bladder of oxygen gas was procured, the inspiration of which seemed to be followed by an increased activity in respiration and arterial action. As the heat of the body was not deficient, the face and chest were sprinkled with cold water, which, adds the author, " had also the effect of rousing the dormant powers of sensation, as the respiratory muscles were uniformly thrown into action, though in a more feeble and interrupted manner than when we employed the -galvanic influence." These processes of galvanism and oxygenation were alternately employed every half hour for two hours and a half more, when the galvanic application was discontinued, as the heart, though always excited by it, seemed in the intervals to act more feebly, and to endanger a destruction of that equilibrium of forces which is necessary to the maiiltainence of life. Hartshorn was rubbed on the temples, and the lower extremities being cold, bottles filled with warm water were applied to the feet, whilst the trunk of the body was covered with bed clothes. In an hour after, a gentle perspiration was perceived over the whole body ; the pulse fuller; the respiration easier. The inhalation of gas was continued however at longer periods for three hours more. The spasm on the jaw having subsided, the patient swallowed liquids iri small quantities without apparent difficulty. The pulse how rose to 120 with some strength. About this time this ligature slipped from the arm ; a pound of blood escaped, which produced, at first alarming symptoms of debility. During the night however the Strength recovered. On the following day symptoms of paralysis, appeared* but gradually passed off. In these cases, of course, there could be no more irritability in the muscles than in the unhappy subject, "who could not be roused from the situation in which he was found, and whose severer fate is very rationally imputed to his having fallen on the floor, by which he was still more exposed to the effects of the carbonic acid gas, whose specific weight is known to be greater than that of common air.
Respecting the mode of treating such cases,, we cannot but agree ?with Dr. Babbington, that where respiration is suspended; or even impeded, our first object must be to restore it artificially; and if the appearances he describes have uniformly shown themselves in dissecting animals with a double heart, which have died from this cause, there can hardly be a doubt that death is occasioned by a spasm on the epiglottis. For in common cases of sudden death, -where all the parts have immediately ceased to act, the left side of the heart, and the arteries, are found filled with blood; whereaswhere death has gradually followed the loss of; that series of actions by which life is support*-!, the last act has usually been the muscular contraction of' the arterial system by which the blood has iieen forced into the veins. Unfortunately, the friends of the boy could not be prevailed upon to suffer the body to be opened. It might have afforded some information had it been recorded, whether stiffening came on after death ; whether blood could be diawn from a vein ; and if drawn from any part, whether it had ihepower of coagulation. * -' * That the boy's case was hopeless, however, appears not only from the event, but from the inefficacy of every attempt made towards resuscitation. We shall therefore offer only a single hint on the situation of such as may be found in the act of breathing, however laboriously or imperfectly. And first, after a removal to a, purer air, we cannot help suggesting the importance of sprinkling ?with cold water till such other means arc procured, as in this case were found useful. We should also advise the utmost caution in suffering the body, particularly the lower extremities, to-lose, the lieat it has retained. Sprinkling with cold water has been found sufficient of itself in some very urgent cases, which, as far as our lucmoryservos, were not; less serious than.that of the elder waiter. We refer to one mentioned in a volume of Dodsley's Annual Register, which may be easily referred to, as it was recorded before the Index was published to that valuable work. Most probably the Gentleman's Magazine would furnish the same. The other means suggested by our author, are such as we cannot but approve. But we must offer a hint, which we have found almost innumerable occasions to enforce in sick chambers. When I)r. Babbington's patient recovered his reason, the first thing that distressed him was to find himself in a strange place. From the period that he fell asleep, to the time we are now describing, he had been perfectly unconscious of his own existence. Had he awoke to the scene he had left, how much distress might he have escaped, which, though of short duration, was at a most interesting period. In many cases of fever, the moving a patient's bed, whilst the actions of the brain have been vacillating, has been followed by terrors, which the state of his mind rendered it impossible to i'elieve. A good sytematic description is here given of the process' of Nature, in the deposition of gouty calculous matter, and also the means by which she disengages the parts from it. Some Useful practical remarks follow, on the mode of treatment under cases of particular urgenc}'.
Article 11.?Case of Artificial Dilatation of the Female Urethra, By II. L.Tiiomas, Esq. F. R. S. This paper contains two very interesting cases. In the first, a? mentioned above, the urethra was in a very short time so dilated, that the operator introduced with ease his finger and thumb, and relieved his patient of an ivory car picker, which, whilst it was used by her husband to remove a slight difficulty in making water* had been suddenly retracted into the bladder. No incontinence of urine followed more than six hours afterwards. Mr. Thomas's success induces him to propose, that in all cases Of stone in the female'bladder, recourse should be had to dilatation, rather than a section, which as frequently ends in an incontinence of urine as the greatest and most continued dilatation. The other case, thor it could not be more successful, is perhaps more creditable to the chirurgical dexterity of the author, from the greater difficulty and the novelty of the attempt. We cannot but transcribe it in his own words.
M 2 "A gen-" A gentleman of an inactive and sedentary disposition had foti many years suffered from contispated bowels, which increased to that degree that the most active cathartics failed in producing the desired effect. By the advice of a practitioner, whom he consulted in Paris, he daily introduced into the rectum a piece of flexible cane (about a finger's thickness), where it was allowed to remain until the desire for evacuating the feces came on.. This plan succeeded so well that for more than a twelvemonth he never had occasion to resort to any other means. One morning, being anxious to fulfil a particular engagement in good time, in his hurry he passed the stick Anther up, and with less caution than usual, when it was suddenly sucked up into the body, beyond the reach of his fingers. This accident, however, did not interrupt the free discharge of the fjeces, and the same evacuation regularly took place every day, whilst the stick remained in the gut. It was seven days afterwards when I first saw him; he was in a very distressed state, with every symptom of fever, tension of the abdomen, and a countenance expressive of the greatest anxiety. His relatives and friends were totally ignorant of the real nature of his case; and nothing less than the urgency of his sufferings, could ever have prevailed upon him to disclose it to me. Such were his feelings on the occasion, that a violent hysteric fit was brought on by the mer? recital of what he termed his folly. * " Upon examination with my finger, per anum, no part of the cane could be discovered ; but one end of it was readily felt projecting (as it were) through the parietes of the abdomen, midway between the ilium and the umbilicus on the right side. The slightest pressure upon this part gave him exquisite pain. " After repeated trials 1 was at length enabled, with a bougie, to feel one extremity of the stick lodged high up in the rectum ; but without being able to lay hold of it with the stone forceps. To allay the irritation for the present, an emollient clyster, with tinct. opii. gij; was given, which passed without the least impediment, and did not return. On the next examination, two hours after, I found the sphincter ani considerably dilated, and by a continued perseverance to increase it, the relaxation became so complete, that in about twenty minutes I was enabled to introduce one finger after the other, until the whole hand was engaged in the rectum. " 1 found the end of the stick jammed in the hollow of the sacrum, but by bending the body forward it was readily disengaged, and extracted. Its length was nine inches and a half, with one extremity very ragged and uneven.
Article 12.?Case of Hydrophobia, with an Account of the Ap* pcarances after Death. Communicated by Alexander Marcet, M. D. F. R. S. one of the Physicians to Guy's Hospital.
This account cannot be expected to furnish much novelty, in this melancholy disease; it is however very well worth being recorded, tor no facts can be unimportant in a malady that baffles not only all our remedies but all our researches.
There are two or three particulars worthy of notice. The first is, that the dog appears to have been diseased, refusing hi? food, and barking less distinctly than usual. He left his home, as has always been remarked, and as far as can be judged, died without any appearance of violence. He bit his master in two places, who without using any precautions, remained well.
The patient lived to the sixth day after the first appearance of the symptoms. The pharynx was found inflamed, and inflamed portions of the oesophagus appeared also. The vessels on the surface of the brain were turgid ; some of the vessels of the pia mater contained small bubbles of air.
The remedies used were opium to a considerable quantity, though, as the writer expresses himself, without much hope of success.
Iron and arsenic had also a full trial. Hyocyamus seemed to exasperate the symptoms, but this inference must be uncertain.
Article 13.?Account of Three Cases of sudden Death, rciV/i the Appearances on Dissection, and some additional Observations, hj Thomas Chevalier, Esq. F. R. S. Surgeon to the General Westminster Dispensary, and Surgeon Extraordinary to the prince of Wales. In these three cases no appearances of disease could be discovered ; but the heart was in all found destitute of blood, yet not contracted. A similar case is extracted by our author from Bonetus, and another from Morgagni. Some judicious observations follow of Mr. Chevalier's; and two cases are related by Mr. Wood, in, which the previous symptoms were somewhat analogous, but relieved by vol. alkali and other stimulants. Article 14.?Case of Intus-susceptio, with Remarks. By Thomas Blizard, Esq. E. II. S. Surgeon to the London Hospital.
Our readers will recollect, or may turn to a paper in our Journal, No. 35, for January 1802, by Dr. Hull, of Manchester. In this, the ingenious author (page 32), refers to a paper in the second volume of Transactions of a Society for Medical and Chirurgical Invprovements, where a substance is described resembling gut, about a yard long, discharged by a patient under symptoms of colic and dysentery. This substance being accurately examined by Dr. Baillie, was admitted to be a portion of colon. In this Dr. Hull is ready to agree; but these two physicians differ in the probable manner in which the continuity of the intestinal canal was preserved after so large a defalcation. Dr. Baillie conceived that under high inflammation, ending in mortification, coagulated lymph was thrown out, surrounding the inflamed part, and.whep the mortified part was separated, that the cavity was preserved by this coagulated lymph, which retained the tubular form of thp intestine it had before surrounded. Dr. Hull, whilst lie admits the advantages Dr. Baillie has over him, from his extensive .opportunities of seeing diseased dissections, expresses his dissent with much modesty; and from analogous cases which were examined after death, and are recorded by different writers, does not scruple to give it as his opinion that the disease was Intus-susceptio ; that the incarcerated part mortified at its extremities was cast oft", and that the continuity of the canal was preserved by an adhesion at the divided extremities of the containing gut, with the parts immediately contiguous. In the succeeding Number of our Journal, is contained a most valuable, though short paper, from Dr. Baillie, in which that gentleman, with a candour which distinguishes his every transaction, makes no scruple to admit the greater probability of Dr. Hull's opinion, particularly as it is supported by cases strongly analogous, and in which the parts were examined after death.
The case contained in Sir W. Biizard's paper, now in order berfore us, is of a child, who after the usual symptoms of constipated bowels, died. On dissection, six inches of the intestinum ileum, the caecum' crecum with its appendix, and ascending colon with1 its transverse, flexure, were found compressed within the sigmoid flexure-of the colon extending to the rectum. The rest of the intestines werfe little altered, but the intus-suscepted parts were in a complete state of strangulation, and black. " Had the child's constitution," con- It must be admitted, that for men in full practice-, this would be a difficult task, and perhaps, if it were always required of them, wc might lose many valuable facts and observations* .which we now possess in a.crude state. Nor can we, on this occasion, fail to mention the advantage which medicine has derived ?from our hazardous, but as it has proved, fortunate undertaking. By means of our Journal, the most important facts have been not .only circulated several years sooner than they could otherwise have been generally known, but any inaccurate conclusions have been lioticed; and as we see in the remarks of Drs.' BaiMie and Hull, corrected with equal celerity, and perhaps with greater precision than any other means could have accomplished.
Article 15.?Description of Two Muscles surrounding the membranous Part of the Urethra. By James Wilson, Esq. F. II. S.
&c. and Vice President of this Society. " In my lectures on the organs of generation, I have, for these last ten years, demonstrated to the students attending in Great Windmill Street, two very distinct fleshy bellies belonging to muscle;; of a triangular shape,, united below by one common tendon, but each having a separate tendinous attachment to theinside of the symphysis Of the pubes, and which are so placed as to surround fhe membranous part of the urethra. The tendon belonging exclusively to each muscle, is at first of a round shape, but soon be-M 4 comes comes flattened as it descends; it is affixed to the baek part of th$ symphysis of the pubes; in the adult, about one-eighth of an inch above the lower edge of the cartilaginous arch of the pubes, and nearly at the same distance below the attachment of the tendon of the bladder; to which, and to the tendon of {he corresponding muscle, it is connected by very loose cellular membrane. . The tendon descends at first in contact with, and parallel to its fellow ; it soon becomes broader, and thep sends oft' fleshy fibres, which also increase in breadth, and when near to the upper surface of the membranous part of the urethra, separate from those of the opposite side, spread themselves on the side of the membranous part of the urethra through its wl^ole extent, then fold themselves unde^ it, and meet in a middle tendinous line, with similar fibres of the opposite side. Oqe extremity of this common tendon is connected with the posterior part of the tendon joining the acceleratores urina3 muscles, and which, in the perineum, joins also with some of the fibres of the sphincter ani and transversales perinei muscles.

"
The line of tendon connecting the two bellies of these muscles, js in general very distinctly seen running from the apex of the prostate gland, along the under surface of the membranous portion of the urethra, until it enters the corpus spongiosum penis. Sometimes, however, it is more faintly marked, and the flehy fibres then appear to be continued into each other." Qne effect of the attachment and course above described, the author very reasonably remarks, must he to draw the membranous part of the urethra upwards, so as to compress it against the inside of the cartilaginous arch of the pubes, another to diminish or even close the urethra at that part. 1 " It is well known that the part where the membranous portion of the urethra joins the penis, is naturally the narrowest-part of the cianal ; it is at this part that the chief impediment is felt, in irritable urethras, to the introduction of any instrument; and here strictures generally begin to be formed. The contraction of these muscular fibres must occasionally increase the difficulty, and sometimes of itself produce it. When bougies have been introduced into very irritable urethra;, and have been permitted to remain in them a few minutes, I have often observed, on their being withdrawn, that they were much flattened at that part which lay in the membranous portion of the urethra. This could only be occasion-* ed by the muscles, which in the perineum are connected with the middle tendon of the muscles now described, contracting at the same time, rendering the perineum a fixed point, and thereby obliging the fibres of the muscle* surrounding thp urethra, to form in their Contraction a straighter line, and thus to compress the sides of the urethra more than the under part, and by this means to change the urethra from a circular to an elliptical form. " Knowing," concludes our author, " that such muscles exist, we shall not hastily infer, that a permanent stricture of the urethra is formed, because we cannot immediately introduce a bougie or ! > . cathetera patheter. We shall therefore avoid using those remedies, which, though adapted to the cure of a stricture attended with a morbid alteration of the urinary passage, would, in a case arising from contraption only of these muscles, prove injurious to our patient.
Jn cases of retention of urine, where no instrument will enter the bladder, we shall be induced to persevere in the means best adapted to overcome a temporary but forcible contraction of muscles, which is constant, bqt which are seldom thrown into such strong action. When this has been done, our second attempt-to draw off the; urine will probably succeed. It is my wish here, however, to point out an arrangement of muscular fibres till now overlooked, not to reason on such arrangement.". This truly valuable pqper is accompanied with an engraving to illustrate it. Wp shall only remark, that the sphincter vesicas, an<l the muscular fibres of the urethra, are more easily talked of than demonstrated. The mqscles above described cannot hereafter escape fhe notice of any diligent anatomist, and every practical surgeon, will keep them in view, whenever he meets with difficulties in passing an instrument of any description, especially }n that part of the urethra. give it therefore at full length, as the text of the paper. Portion first came on; but he ceased to be under his care on the pa-? ralysis supervening. " In little more than a week from the time of my first seeing him, he became at first slightly, and then considerably affected with convulsive motions of the whole body. These recurred at more and /more frequent intervals, he became gradually less and less sensible, and died in about twenty-four hours from their commencement. I saw him a few hours previous to his death. He was then in a state of insensibility, with his eyes suffused, his pulse weak, frequent, and fluttering, and his respiration laborious. The distorted eye Iiad recovered its usual position a few hours before, and the pupils were insensible to the action of light. " On dissection, the brain was found to be of an unusually firm texture, with about half an ounce of water in the ventricles.
There was no diseased appearance in the right side of the head? but in the left, a tumour was discovered on the tuberculum annulare, which my friend and colleague Mr. Thomas Blizard, surgeo^ to the London Hospital, did me the favour to examine with me, '* It was about the size of a hazel nut, and was lying on, and sunk into the tuberculum, at its posterior part, on the left side. It extended to the corpus pyramidale of the same side, pressing upon, , and entirely obscuring the left abductor nerve. The tumour was closely connected with the basilar artery, half an inch from the union of the .vertebra's to form it; and the coats of this artery had (become so tender, that they readily gave way. from the application of a probe, which passed through the tumour. The tumour was ,3'n a state of imperfect suppuration, and a small coagulum was formed on the diseased part of the artery, similar to what is found in aneurismal arteries.' The tumour now described, agreed very much in nature with those, which various authors on the subject of morbid anatomy have mentioned, as being occasionally found in the brain. It seemed to be of a scrophulous nature, and its appearance and imperfect suppuration were analogous to those of scrophulous tumours, formed on the surface, or in any of the cavities of the body. The pressure \\4hich it made on the tuberculum annulare and medulla oblongata, there appears to be 110 doubt, gave rise to the pain of the head, .the strabismus, the gradual production of paralysis, and the convulsions which occurred in the latter period of the patient's life. The distortion of the left eye towards the nose, was the necessary consequence of the nerve being affected, which gave energy to the abductor muscle of the eye; and as it arose from the preponderating influence of its antagonist, the adductor, it went off at that period, near the close of life, when the whole nervous system became in a great degree inert. " The. pressure which was made on the basilar artery, had produced a considerable thinness and tenderness in its coats, so as to make them readily give way, on the application of a probe.
-Had this gone on a little further, the patient must have lost his life by the the vessel giving way, from its inability to resist th& pressure of tlio column of blood which passed through it." The combined circumstance of the paralytic symptoms on the right side of the body, and in a muscle of the left eye, apparently arising from a compression on the left side'of the brain, have led the author into an enquiry concerning the propagation of nervous influence from the brain and spinal marrow, lo the muscles ot different sides. Tlie structure of the spinal marrrow and the effects of injuries it sustains, are fjrst considered according'to the opinion, of different anatomists.
Haller, it is observed, in one part of his writings, speaks of the same side of the,body on which the spinal marrow has-suffered an injury as becoming paralytic ; in another place it is shown, that he describes the opposite side from that in which the spinal marrow has been affected as paralyzed. From hence our author concludes, that Waller's remarks are not founded on his own observations.
Soemmering observes with the former writer, a decussation of medullary fibres in the medulla oblongata, immediately below the ninth or lingual nerves. Ife speaks of injuries to the *pitje fls affecting the side of the body, in which the injury has happened ; yet, in another passage, he conceives it highly probable that the fibrils of the spinal nerves, everywhere belong to the side of the body, opposite to that in which they are dispersed. Sabatier merely describes the two columns of which the spine is composed.
Vicq d'Azyr's remarks go principally to show a communication between the two columns into which the medulla spinalis is divided.
Having shown the difficulty of learning.any thjng from , the.phy-? siological speculations of former writers, Dr. Yellowly proceeds to inquire how far experiments, observations made in disease, or the structure of analogous parts in other animals may direct us.
Galen, i? is observed, gives what appears the result of experiments, by which it was found that if the spinal marrow was divided longitudinally, none of the nerves on either side were paralyzed. If transversely, that then the nerves only directly below the division were paralyzed. On this the ingenious author of the paper very justly remarks, that' if there really exists a decussation of nervous filaments from one side to the other, a wound either longitudinal or transverse, however partial, must wound either the origin or ramifications of the nerves on both sides, and consequently should produce paralytic symptoms on both sides. Some instances are cited of natural structure in some animals, and peculiarities in individual human spines, in which water has been found in a species of canal in the middle of the'spinal marrow.
Under such circumstances it is remarked, that it there really existed a propagation of nervous influence by decussation of nervous fibres, it must have been interrupted. In insects it is found ihat the two sides of the medulla oblongata are separate throughout ' their tljeir whole extent. All these facls and analogies seem to contradict any decussation of nervous fibres from one side to the other.
It is next remarked, that some instances have been known of persons wounded in the spinal marrow, who have lived for a considerable time without any paralytic affection. In such cases, it is added, that probably the medulla spinalis was divided longitudinally and not transversely. Before we offer our opinion on this question we must be satisfied of the fact, for we are quite of opinion with our author, that " it is difficult [not merely] on the principle of decussation, [but from every fact we have witnessed] to conceive a wound in the spinal marrow in any direction, which ?would not have the effect of dividing a part of the medium of nervous communication." A case is mentioned, witnessed by several medical gentlemen, in which a tumour, found after death, pressing on the left side of the dorsal vertebras, produced several anomalous symptoms and severe pains on the left side of the abdomen, and, a short time before death, paralysis greater on that side than on the right.
To ascertain how far Galen's account might be depended on, Mr.
Astley Cooper was prevailed upon to divide one half of the spinal yarrow of a d.og transversely. The division was made on the. right side. The animal at first appeared dead and rigid. In the course of a few minutes he recovered so far as to breathe, but the elevation and dppression of the ribs seemed confined to the left side. When laid on his back, it was found that the extremities on the left side were stiffen than those on the right, and that on bending them they immediately recovered their position. The extremities on the right side were more flaccid, and remained in the posture in which they were placed.
When the animal turned himself, it was entirely by the exertion of his left side. When he attempted to stretch himself, he succeeded on the left side: he barked slightly. The muscles of his head and the organs of sense seemed to retain their power; he appeared to swallow. The flaccidity of the side on which the operation was performed seemed to increase, but he recovered the'power of moving his tail. On the following morning he had convulsions in bpth, but principally in the wounded side. On examination after death, slight marks of inflammation appeared, and the operation was proved to have been accurately performed. This experiment confirms one part of Galen's assertions, viz. that wounds in the one side of the spinal marrow affect the same side of the body or extremities.
The similarity of structure, observes Dr. Ycllowly, in the medulla spinalis and oblongata, renders it probable that the same lfiws obtain in both. But some experiments of M. Lorry seem to prove, that a wound in one side of the medulla oblongata produces paralysis in the other. Objections are, however, made to IVJ. Lorry's experiments, both on account of the natural structure of the animals (pigeons) on which they were made, and also from the difficulty of conducting such experiments with sufficient accuracy. As it is found that the tongue, the velum pendulum, and occasionally occasionally the muscles of deglutition, are affected in paralytic cases on the same side as the other voluntary muscles, it is conceived a fair pathological inference, that the medulla oblongata and spinalis follow the same law ; that is, the parts are affected on the same, not on the side different from that on which the injury is received.
The effects of pressure on either hemisphere of the brain, has been since the days of Hippocrates, for the most part, admitted to produce paralysis on the opposite side. Whether the same takes place in the cerebellum is not so easily ascertained, as that part is rarely injured without so much mischief induced in many parts of the brain, as to preclude any certain conclusion. Having made these general remarks, our author is lead again into the inquiry concerning decussating fibres, and the result is about as uncertain as before. Much information, it is remarked, might be gained by a minute attention to the effect which pressure in particular parts of the brain might produce on particular nerves. "We heartily agree with this proposition, and sincerely wish that this paper was enriched with more experiments than we find it. By these only can we arrive at any explanation of " an unaccountable circumstance" remarked by Dr. Y. that the senses are in.general but little affected in this complaint. Even those nerves which are concerned in mere motion, as the 3d, 4th, and 6"th pairs, which go to the muscles of the eyes, have their power but little affected." These and many other apparent paradoxes remarked in this paper, can ?nly be solved by repeated and very accurate experiments.
" The brain," continues Dr. Y. " has a remarkable power in accommodating itself to gradual derangement; and in cases where deposition has been made, or growth taken place by slow advances, the act of absorption on the substance of the brain itself, seems to keep pace with the alteration of circumstances, and thus to prevent any undue or irregular pressure." Yet it must be remembered, that the case related in the beginning of the paper, and which has ^iven rise to those inquiries, seems to have been a gradual formation, and to have proved fatal before any considerable enlargement occurred. ' " It seems to be a salutary provision of Nature, that while those parts of the body which are concerned in voluntary motion, are affected in paralysis, through the medium principally of the spinal nerves, those which supply organs immediately concerned in the preservation of life, are connected as well with the brain as with both sides of the spinal marrow. The great sympathetic nerve, by this connection, and by the number of ganglions which occur in the course of it, (which seem to afford an additional source of nervous influence) is well adapted for preserving, in the vital organs, a species of security against thai partial interruption to the propagation of nervous influence, which takes place in paralysis." Yet we find in Mr. Cooper's experiment on the dog, the muscles of respiration, a function moat important to life, were very materially ierially affected by the operation. At the conclusion of the paper, notice is taken of Drs. Gall and Spuzheim's memoir, of which we gave an account in one of our former Numbers, and the passage quoted in which those gentlemen remark the communication by means of nervous filaments between the two cords into which the medulla oblongata is separated. In answer to this, it is very justly remarked, that this proof of decussating fibres will not materially affect the reasoning. " If we find (says our author) that pressure "on the opposite of rlie brain will affect such nerves as are sent out from the medulla oblongata, above the place where this appearance of decussation is seen, it.seems to be evident, that the decussation occurring at this place, and confined to a very small portion of the thickness of the whole column, is not the means by which the phenomenon is pro~ ?duced. 44 Should the portio dura of the auditory nerve be affected in paralysis of the face, additional force is given to this argument; since it has been proved, both by the authors of the memoir, and by the committee to whom we are indebted for the report, that this nerve arises from the medulla oblongata, near its unionWith the pons Varolii, and not from the crus of the cerebellum." We have endeavoured to do justice to this paper, on account of the evident pains which it must have cost the author, as well as on account of the obscurity of the subject. But, we cannot help again recommending agerc plus quam scriberc. By experiments well conducted we may determine something; by reasoning without them, nothing; and though quotations from Aretajus and Galen may show the learning and industry of a writer, they at the same time show the slow progress of the art, if we are to depend on -writers of that date for facts which we can ascertain ourselves. Article IS.?Case of a Fa-tus found in the Abdomen of a Boy.
By William George Young, Esq.
Of this very curious case, we shall only remark, that the subject containing the fetus was born apparently in good health ; that he lived about nine months ; during which time every circumstance proves that the fetus lived and grew. The latter was imperfect in so many respects that it could not have existed an hour, removed from its nidus. In other words, it had no means of supporting its own existence, which was only preserved by communicating vessels with its brother.
A fact so well ascertained, may induce us to believe a story long current in France, and within these few years repeated in one of their Journals, of a youth who lived to the age of puberty with a brother gradually increasing in his abdomen. These cases are very curious; but as they never can furnish any practical information, 'lis'enough that they are recorded. : ( To be concluded in our next. ) A Treatise A Treatis; on local Inflammationr more particularly applied to Diseases of the Eye, wherein an Improvement in the Treatment of those Diseases is recommended. "By J. B. Skrny, M. D. Occulist. 8vo. pp. 128. Londop, 1809.
The practice of separating the several branches of mediciae and ?surgery appears to be gaining ground in the more civilized parts of the world; though, doubtless, there will always be found some practitioners in all countries who will not scruple to profess every branch.
Such a separation of the science is well calculated to promote the improvement of it, and this has actually been ?found by experience to be the case. The public at large, as well as the profession itself, always give a marked preference to those -who confine themselves to particular lines of practice. We remark--this more especially in diseases of the Eyes and Teeth; and in those cases where great dexterit)' of operation is required. Hence arises the rational preference given to hospital surgeons in the per-?formance of the great operations of surgery, As the organs of vision are the most wonderful parts of our frame, and the instruments of our most important sense, so the diseases of them have always formed a very important branch of medical practice. Our author appears to have devoted much attention to the subject which he has chosen for the exclusive line 0i